Hydroxy containing thiol sulfides

ABSTRACT

COMPOUNDS REPRESENTED BY THE FORMULA   H-S-R-S-CH2-CH(-OH)-R&#39;&#39;   WHEREIN R IS AN ALKYLENE GROUP OF 1 TO 5 CARBON ATOMS AND R&#39;&#39; IS A SATURATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBON RADICAL HAVING FROM 10 TO 20 CARBON ATOMS, INCLUSIVE, ARE PREPARED BY THE REACTION OF A DIMERCAPTAN WITH A LONG CHAIN EPOXIDE. THE COMPOUNDS PRODUCED ARE SUITABLE FOR PREVENTION OF TARNISH ON SILVER, COPPER, AND OTHER TARNISHABLE METAL.

United States Patent 01 ace 3,567,782 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 3,567,782 HYDROXY CONTAINING THIOL SULFIDES Paul F. Warner, Phillips, and Edward E. Huxley, Borger, Tex., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company No Drawing. Filed Aug. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 751,060 Int. Cl. C07c 149/18; C09g 1/02;B01j1/16 US. Cl. 260-609 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Compounds represented by the formula wherein R is an alkylene group of 1 to carbon atoms and R is a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive, are prepared by the reaction of a dimercaptan with a long chain epoxide. The compounds produced are suitable for prevention of tarnish on silver, copper, and other tarnishable metal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a heavy mercaptan compound. In another aspect, this invention relates to a hydroxysubstituted mercapto sulfide which is efiective as a tarnish inhibitor. In accordance with a further aspect, this invention relates to a hydroxy-substituted mercapto sulfide useful as tarnish inhibitor for silver, copper, and other tarnishable metals. In accordance with another aspect, this invention relates to a method for producing hydroxy-substituted mercapto sulfides by the reaction of a dimercaptan with a long chain epoxide.

Tarnishable metals such as silver and copper are well known to tarnish rapidly in normal atmospheres. A house- Wife who owns silverware, a silver service, or copper utensils, finds it necessary to polish these utensils frequently in order to maintain their attractive appearance.

A number of anti-tarnish agents have been suggested to prevent the tarnish of silver or copper. In general, these compounds attach to the metal, forming a thin invisible film which prevents the attack of sulfur or oxygen on the metal. While the anti-tarnish agents of the prior art can be used alone, it is generally preferred, for household use, to incorporate such agents into a paste or liquid composition. Such a polishing compound will remove old tarnish through incorporation of a light abrasive agent, and it will simultaneously treat the clean surface with the anti-tarnish agent to prevent future tarnish.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide effective tarnish inhibiting agents for silver, copper and other metals.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved anti-tarnish agent and polish composition containing the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved process for the production of hydroxy-substituted mercapto sulfides.

Other aspects, objects, as Well as the several advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure and the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The novel compounds of the invention have the general formula represented by H H HsRs( 3( 1R' r r 6H wherein R is an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, inclusive, and R is a saturated aliphatic radical having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive.

The compounds falling within this generic formula have very little odor and display good tarnish inhibition when applied to tarnishable metals such as silver and copper.

The novel compounds of the invention are conveniently prepared by the inter-reaction of a long chain epoxide having 12 to 22 carbon atoms with a dimercaptan having the formula HSR-SH wherein 'R is an alkylene group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms in the presence of a catalyst. A presently preferred catalyst is an alkali metal hydroxide in an alcoholic solution. More preferably, sodium hydroxide is employed as a catalyst.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hydroxy-substituted mercapto sulfide compounds produced according to the invention falling Within the scope of the generic formula set forth above include:

mercaptomethyl 2-hydroxypentadecyl sulfide Z-mercaptoethyl Z-hydroxyhexadecyl sulfide 3-mercaptopropyl 2-hydroxyheptadecyl sulfide 4-mercaptobutyl Z-hydroxyoctadecyl sulfide S-mercaptoamyl Z-hydroxyoctadecyl sulfide 2-mercaptoethyl Z-hydroxyoctadecyl sulfide Z-mercaptoethyl 2hydroxydocosyl sulfide The currently most preferred compounds falling within the group above include the hydroxy-substituted mercapto sulfides produced by the reaction of 1,2-ethanedithiol with a straight chain epoxide containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms. This product has been found to be a superior tarnish inhibitor for silver.

Other dimercaptans that can be employed include 1,3- propanedithiol, 1,4-butanedithiol, and 1,5-pentanedithiol. If desired, mixtures of the dimercaptans can be employed When desired.

Representative examples of suitable epoxides that can be employed include pentadecylene oxide, hexadecylene oxide, heptadecylene oxide, octadecylene oxide, or mixtures of these.

The relative amounts of reactants which are to be employed will be dictated by the type of product which is desired. Generally, the mole ratio of dimercaptan to epoxide is broadly 20:1 to 1:1, and preferably 5:1 to 1.5 :1.

In carrying out the method of the invention, the epoxide and dimercaptan are ordinarily contacted at a reaction temperature of F. to 300 F., preferably F. to 225 F. and for a period of time from 30 minutes to 5 hours.

Acids or bases may be used as catalysts for this reaction. A catalyst, for example, sodium hydroxide, is employed in catalytic amounts of from about 0.05 to 2 percent by Weight, based on the amount of epoxide charged to the reaction. Sodium methylate, sodium ethylate, or other basic materials, such as amines, may be used. After the reaction is complete, the product can be recovered by any conventional means, such as by vacuum or fractional distillation from the reaction mixture.

The compounds of the invention find utility in the many known areas where mercaptans are usable, and particularly Where the normal odor associated with mercaptan compounds is objectionable. Because of the very low odor of the compounds of this invention, they can be used in conjunction with paint, sealing compounds, silver polish compositions, and so forth. The compounds find particular utility in making of silver and copper polish compositions. These compounds not only have a very low odor necessary for successful polish compositions, but have excellent tarnish inhibiting properties. For such an application the compounds would normally be mixed with a light abrasive agent such as chalk, silica alumina, a diluent such as water, or a lower alcohol and a suspending agent. Perfumes may be added if desired.

While the compounds may be directly applied to previously cleaned metal, in the preferred embodiment the antiposition. Abrasive powders that can be included or employed are known in the prior art as is illustrated in US. Patent No. 2,205,115.

The satisfactory polishing composition will also include a diluent. The amount of diluent will depend upon the consistency of the polishing compound desired. Generally, polar solvent can be used as a diluent, with water or a lower alcohol being preferred.

In order to prevent the abrasive powder from settling out of suspension, a small quantity of a suspending agent should be employed. Such agents are well known to those skilled in the art.

For example, a silver polish composition can be compounded with the following general ranges: I to 50 weight percent of a hydroxy-substituted mercapto sulfide of the invention, 5 to 98 percent abrasive, to percent odorizer, and 0 to 1 percent suspending agent. Sufiicient diluent is then added to form a composition of the desired consistency.

Example I The anti-tarnish agent 2-mercaptoethyl-2'-hydroxypentadecyl sulfide was prepared by the reaction of 1,2-ethanedithiol with a saturated straight chain C C hydrocarbon with a terminal epoxy group using alcoholic sodium hydroxide as the catalyst. The hydroxy-substituted mercapto sulfide produced gave a top crude yield of 67 mole percent with about 50 weight percent mercaptan purity. A portion of the crude was purified by taking it overhead in a Brush still. The overhead product represented a 58 mol percent yield and had a mercaptan purity of about 97 percent.

The equipment used included a three-necked flask equipped with a reflux condenser, dropping funnel and a variable speed stirrer. The reaction temperature was controlled by means of a heating mantle and Variac.

The mercaptan was prepared in the following manner: the 1,2-ethanedithiol (4.4 moles) containing 2 weight percent of a saturated solution of sodium hydroxide in ethanol as catalyst was placed in the reactor. The reactor was heated to 200 F. The epoxide was added dropwise to the reactor over a period of 105 minutes. The temperature was maintained between 195 and 220 F. during the addition. After all of the epoxide was added, the reactor was held at 215 to 220 F. for an additional four hours to allow the reaction to go to completion. The catalyst was not removed from the reaction product.

The reaction product was vacuum flashed at one millimeter of mercury and 325 F. A portion of the kettle product from this flash operation was retained for evaluation as a silver tarnish inhibitor.

The remainder of the topped crude was charged to the Brush still. About 66 weight percent of the charge was taken overhead at 65 to 4 microns pressure and a kettle temperature of 290 to 450 F. Approximately 85 weight percent of the overhead material had a mercaptan sulfur content of 9.7 weight percent or a mercaptan purity of 97 weight percent (theoretical mercaptan sulfur is 9.95 weight percent).

Properties of the epoxide fused and the crude purified mercaptan product made from it are listed in Table I.

"tarnish'agent will be compounded into'a polishing com TABLE I.-PROPERT1ES OF FEEDSTOCK AND PRODUCTS FROM SYNTHESIS OF HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT 1- Tl-IIQL FROM NEDOX 1518 AND 1,2-ETHANEDITHIOL Composition: 2 Liglits LECULAR WEIGHT l-THIOL FROM NEDOX 1518 AND 1,2-ETI-IANEDITIIIOL Recoveryfi Charge to Reactor Grams Moles mol percent 1,2-ethanedithiol 417 Nedox 1518 574 Ethanolic caustic 19 Reactor Conditions:

Temperature, 185-215 F Pressure, atm Reaction time, 2 hours Flash Distillation:

Charge O verhead product. Kettle product.

Brush Still Distillation:

Kettle product "II.

1 Ncdox 1518 is a straight saturated chain with a terminal epoxy group, with 015 to C 8 chain length, sold by ADM Chemicals.

2 Based on Nedox 1518 and per cent recovery. 3 Assumed to be 1,2-ethanedithi0l. N About 50 percent mercaptan by mercaptan sulfur.

OTE: Yield, Pounds of 50 weight percent material as kettle product from flash distillation per pound of Nedox was 1.19.

Yield, Pounds of 97 weight percent product as overhead fraction Jrom Brush still per pound of N edox was 0.79.

Example II The Z-mercaptoethyl-2'-hydroxy C -C sulfide prod uct produced according to Example I exhibited excellent anti-tarnish inhibition characteristics. A formulation was made of the inhibitor of the invention, as well as known tarnish inhibitors using a water suspension of the tarnish inhibitor and a polishing grit. These polishes were made as follows:

4.19% or 1.4 grams tarnish inhibitor to be evaluated 5.98% or 2.0 grams liquid Ivory detergent 14.97% or 5.0 grams Bon Ami polishing grit 74.85% or 25.0 grams of water.

Silver test strips were cleaned with the polishes formed as noted above and were suspended in a desiccator containing a controlled hydrogen sulfide atmosphere of 200- 300 p.p.m. by volume by adding 1 ml. of a 1 weight percent sodium hydro-sulfide water solution to 100 ml. of water in a desiccator. The tarnish inhibitors tested exhibited varying degrees of tarnish inhibition.

After about 24 hours exposure, the silver strip had a light tarnish for the specimen treated with the Z-mercaptoethyl-2-hydroxy C C sulfide produced according to Example I. Specimens treated with known prior art in hibitors had a heavy tarnish after about the same length of exposure. In fact, some of the prior art inhibitors were heavily tarnished after only about 8 hours exposure.

Example III In another test using 10 percent solution of an inhibitor in toluene and applied to silver strips which had been polished with Bon Ami, washed and dried before application of the toluene solution, it was again found that the inhibitor of the invention produced according to Example I was only lightly tarnished after over 20 hours exposure to H S.

In one test, silver was cleaned with Bon Ami and coated with 10 percent solution of the inhibitor and then exposed to 1 ml. of 1 percent sodium hydrosulfide solution in 100 ml. Water.

The inhibitor of the invention exhibited a higher rating as a tarnish inhibitor compared to some of the known prior art tarnish inhibitors tested under the same conditions.

We claim:

1. A compound of the formula H H HS-RS(|J(|JR' H OH References Cited Culvenor et al.: J. Chem. Soc. (1949), pp. 278-282. Owen et al.: Chem. Abstracts, vol. 46, p. 9058 (1952).

JOSEPH P. BRUST, Primary Examiner D. R. PHILLIPS, Assistant Examiner 

